In the Keport of the Secretary of War, published at the end of the year 1866, no less than twentythree large closely printed pages are filled with accounts of Indian depredations, the chastisement which followed, and the measures suggested for their prevention in future. While public attention was engrossed by the war in the South, the Indians appear to have increased in audacity. Now the tide of emigration runs westward, all the stronger since a million soldiers have been mustered out of the ranks in the last two years. And those who remain in the service would prefer any other duty to that of coercing disaffected districts ; where whatever measures they may take are sure to be found fault with by one half of the loyal men and the whole of the unloyal. It seems certain that there is a great Indian war now begun, and it will be carried on with larger forces, and over a greater extent of country than has ever been attempted before. The Indians themselves are fully impressed by the conviction that unless they make some united effort, they will be swept away and perish; and are themselves taking the initiative, and commencing hostilities. And there is a general feeling among the Americans, that if there is to be a war, it will be far better to settle that business ‘right off,‘ even at considerable cost, rather than to be annoyed and taxed for ever to pay for distant expeditions and frontier skirmishes as unsatisfactory and costly to them as a war in New Zealand is to us.